Speaker vs. President: Navigating the Powers of Summoning, Adjournment, and Dissolution
An In-depth Guide to Indian Parliamentary Procedures and Constitutional Provisions.
In the Indian Parliamentary system, the distribution of power between the President of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a cornerstone of constitutional checks and balances. While both are pivotal, their roles are distinct: one acts as the "Head of the Union," and the other as the "Guardian of the House."
The Core Differences: Comparison Table
| Feature | The President of India | The Speaker of Lok Sabha |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | Article 85 | Rules of Procedure of the House |
| Summoning | Power to Summon each House to meet. | No power to summon a new session. |
| Adjournment | No power to adjourn a daily sitting. | Sole power to Adjourn or Adjourn Sine Die. |
| Prorogation | Issues the order to Prorogue a session. | Cannot prorogue; only notifies the House of President's order. |
| Dissolution | Power to Dissolve the Lok Sabha. | No power to dissolve the House. |
| Joint Sitting | Summons a Joint Sitting (Article 108). | Presides over the Joint Sitting. |
1. The Power to Summon (Article 85)
The President is the only authority who can summon Parliament. By constitutional mandate, there must not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions.
- The President’s Role: Acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
- The Speaker’s Role: Manages the proceedings once the session begins.
2. Adjournment vs. Prorogation
Adjournment (Speaker)
The Speaker manages the daily clock. They may suspend the sitting for a specific hour/day or Sine Die (without a date).
Prorogation (President)
Prorogation terminates the entire session (e.g., Budget Session). It is done via a Presidential notification.
3. Dissolution of the House
Dissolution marks the end of the Lok Sabha's life, necessitating a general election.
- Presidential Authority: Only the President can dissolve the House.
- The Speaker's Status: The Speaker does not vacate office immediately upon dissolution; they stay until right before the new Lok Sabha's first meeting.
4. The Joint Sitting (Article 108)
When a deadlock occurs over a Bill:
- Who Calls it? The President.
- Who Leads it? The Speaker.
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